Electric And Mechanical Patents (Class 188/156)
  • Patent number: 8307959
    Abstract: A device (20) has an electrically-operated brake (37) and a manually-operated auxiliary brake (27). The electrically-operated brake includes a coil (70), a core (68), an armature (69), and an alternating series of friction pads (74) and brake disks (75), that are arranged to be compressed between the housing and the armature. The shaft brake (27) includes a collar (22) mounted on the housing for combined axial and rotative movement relative thereto, a first interlock portion (106, 110) mounted on the shaft (24), an annular member (84) surrounding the shaft and having a second interlock portion (85) and a spring (124) urging the member to move toward the shaft. The collar (22) is adapted to be selectively moved relative to the housing between a first portion at which the first (106, 110) and second (85) interlock portions are physically engaged with one another, and a second position at which the first (106, 110) and second (85) interlock portions are physically separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Marco D. D'Amore, Patrick K. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8307960
    Abstract: A brake actuator for an electrical parking brake comprises an electric motor and a planetary gear set. The axes on which the planet wheels are carried on the planet carrier are joined substance-to-substance to the planet carrier, i.e. formed in one piece with it or for instance mounted on its surface by means of atomic or molecular forces. Recesses on the axes can receive a lubricant. Spacers between the planet carrier and planet wheels can reduce the contact surface in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Seuser, Andre Busse, Gregor Poertzgen
  • Publication number: 20120241263
    Abstract: A parking brake actuator system for an outdoor power equipment unit, such as a riding lawn mower, comprises a reversible electric motor that drives a gear reduction assembly. The gear reduction assembly rotates an output shaft at a speed slower than the speed of rotation of the motor. The output shaft has opposite ends that are linked by a pair of actuating rods to a pair of parking brakes. As the motor is rotated in reverse rotary directions, the connecting portions of the rods that are coupled to the parking brakes are moved in opposite, straight line directions to move the parking brakes between brake disengaged and brake engaged positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Dale A. Stover, Karl D. Heal, Steven R. Porter
  • Publication number: 20120241264
    Abstract: A regenerative brake device for a vehicle includes a manual brake configured to apply a brake to a wheel of the vehicle by a manual operation of a brake lever; a motor configured to be coupled to a wheel of the vehicle, the motor being driven by a power from a battery, and also alternatively acting as a regenerative brake that charges the battery with an electromotive force of the motor; a brake sensor that detects a manual brake application point at which the manual brake is actuated from an operation amount of the brake lever; and a power control unit that performs regenerative power control for charging the battery with the electromotive force of the motor based on an output signal from the brake sensor so that the regenerative brake is generated in accordance with the operation amount of the brake lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo HOSAKA, Kazuo ASANUMA, Toshiyuki KAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8251189
    Abstract: A railway brake cylinder includes a body (11?); a piston (13?) mobile relative to the body (11?) to act on a brake linkage and delimiting with the body (11?) a pressure chamber (10?) adapted to be supplied by a pneumatic pressure agent source; an auxiliary actuating member (26?) mobile relative to the body (11?) and the piston (13?), mechanically connected to manual operating elements to cause it to occupy either a rest position in which it is away from the piston (13?) or a pushing position in which it is in contact with the piston (13?); two orifices (73?, 51?) in fluid communication with the chamber (10?) and the atmosphere, respectively; and selective connecting elements (28?) between the two orifices (73?, 51?), the elements (28?) being mechanically connected to the auxiliary actuating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Faiveley Transport Amiens
    Inventor: Claudino Goncalves
  • Patent number: 8235181
    Abstract: An cable drive device (10) having a motor (M), a speed reducer (G), a nut member (26) connected to the speed reducer, a rod (32) screwed to the nut member (26) and guided by a guide member (34) so as not to rotate, a control cable (15) composed of an inner cable (45) connected to the rod and a guide tube (49) for guiding the inner cable, a sensor for detecting the amount of operation of the cable based on the amount of rotation of the speed reducer (G), and a load sensor (17) for detecting a load applied to the cable. An electric brake device can be obtained by connecting the control cable and a brake mechanism of the cable drive device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Corporation
    Inventors: Ritsu Sano, Tatsuya Imakura, Chikashi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8220599
    Abstract: Brake equipment, for an elevator installation, includes: a static element; a movable element movable relative to the static element in a first degree of freedom, wherein selectably a first frictional contact is produced in a first contact surface between the static element and the movable element by a controllable normal force acting in a second degree of freedom, and a first friction force opposes movement of the movable element relative to the static element; and a relative element, wherein a second frictional contact is produced in a second contact surface between the movable element and the relative element by the normal force, and a second friction force opposes movement of the movable element relative to the relative element. The relative element is movable in the first degree of freedom relative to the static element between a normal position and a braking position and is resiliently biased into the normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 8215721
    Abstract: The parking brake control device sets a lock control target tension TTAR to a value which depends on the brake fluid pressure (i.e. M/C pressure), wherein the lock control target tension TTAR is used as a threshold determining whether the condition for terminating a lock control is satisfied or not. This operation is aimed for compensating the decrease of the tension applied to the brake cable which occurs caused by the service brake when the service brake is operating and does not occur when the service brake is not operating. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the service brake from causing a problem in which the lock control is terminated while a desired brake force is not achieved at the EPB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Ninoyu, Kazuma Kondo, Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8210326
    Abstract: An electronic parking brake apparatus may include a driving member coupled to and actuating a parking cable, a case in which the driving member is housed, a cable ferrule disposed outside the case and coupled to a portion of the parking cable therethrough, wherein the cable ferrule is biased toward the case by the parking cable when the driving member actuates the parking cable, and a sensing member interposed between the case and the cable ferrule and measuring tension of the parking cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: In Su Kim
  • Patent number: 8196715
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disk brake for a vehicle having a power transmission device that presses a friction pad against a disk by using a worm gear. The disk brake includes a movable friction pad that makes contact with one lateral side of a disk rotating together with a vehicle wheel, thereby generating braking force, a wedge member, which is provided at one side thereof with the movable friction pad and moves toward the disk by means of a driving motor generating a driving force, a guide member for guiding the wedge member such that the wedge member moves back and force relative to the disk; and a power transmission device installed between the driving motor and the guide member so as to convert the driving force of the driving motor into a linear movement in a direction perpendicular to a rotating shaft of the driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Joo Gon Kim
  • Publication number: 20120138742
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of powering at least one brushless DC electric motor having a plurality of phases for powering, the method including the steps of associating a static contactor with the motor for taking input voltage pulses and delivering polyphase voltage pulses to the motor in a manner that is servo-controlled to the angular position of the rotor of the motor, and for generating from a DC voltage source voltage pulses of frequency that is fixed and at a duty ratio that is controllable, thereby forming the input voltage pulses to the static contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Anas FARID, Etienne ANNEE
  • Patent number: 8186773
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a brake system (1) of a motor vehicle, which includes an electric generator (4) and a number of hydraulic, electronically controllable friction brakes (2) being allocated to axles of the motor vehicle, and the brake torque of which is composed of the brake torque of the generator (4) and the brake torque of the friction brakes (2), is intended to safeguard great brake comfort of the brake system (1). To this end, a number of friction brakes (2) are connected only when the total nominal brake torque exceeds the total actual brake torque by a selected maximum brake torque difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Markus Jaeger, Gregor Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8185287
    Abstract: An electromechanically actuable parking brake for motor vehicles is disclosed. The brake includes at least one electromechanical actuator whose rotational movement is converted into a translational movement by an actuating unit, and which moves at least one brake element in such a way that at least one brake lining which is connected to the brake element is pressed with a locking force against a rotor which is connected to a motor vehicle wheel, wherein the current consumption of electromechanical actuator when the parking brake is engaged and/or released can be acquired. Furthermore, a method for operating the electromechanically actuable parking brake is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Contintal Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Christof Maron, Jürgen Völkel, Bernd Neitzel, Rainer Klusemann, Oleg Bauer, Axel Büse, Andreas Kohl, Samir Attayebi, Thomas Bauer
  • Publication number: 20120111673
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ball screw for a motor vehicle brake, in particular for an electromechanically actuable motor vehicle brake, comprising a rotatable spindle; a nut that is axially movable relative to the spindle in accordance with the rotation thereof; and rolling body arrangement that is disposed between, and displaceable relative to, the spindle and the nut. In this ball screw it is provided that the rolling body arrangement is preloaded into a predetermined normal position by means of at least one spring element. The invention further relates to a vehicle brake having such a ball screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: LUCAS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Giering, Benedikt Ohlig
  • Patent number: 8172049
    Abstract: A quiescent-current-actuated electromagnetic spring pressure brake including torque transmission sleeves disposed between a machine wall and the brake, and an axially movable armature plate having bores along its periphery to receive the torque transmission sleeves. At least one piston guide ring is provided in the area of torque transmission sleeves on the outer periphery of the latter adjacent an O-ring disposed in a groove, said piston guide ring being placed in the groove of said O-ring or in a separate groove and acting to provide a damping action in the circumferential direction and a sliding displacement of the armature plate in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Chr. Mayr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunther Klingler, Harald Weiss, Christoph Dropmann
  • Patent number: 8152247
    Abstract: A wheel brake for an aircraft, the brake comprising a support (2) that receives at least one electromechanical actuator (1) fitted with a pusher (8) facing friction elements (3) and movable under drive from an electric motor (6) to apply a braking force selectively against the friction elements. The actuator is non-reversible such that a reaction force applied on the pusher cannot cause the electric motor to turn, and the actuator is associated with elements (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) for selectively switching off an electric power supply to the electric motor, which elements allow power to be delivered to the actuator in normal circumstances, and switch off the power if (a) the measured speed of rotation (wmes) of the electric motor drops below a first predetermined threshold (S1); and (b) the commanded speed of rotation ( ?) of the electric motor drops below a second predetermined threshold (S2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventor: Emmanuel Colin
  • Patent number: 8146718
    Abstract: The translation apparatus comprises an elongate track, an elongate fixed member and a stage. The fixed member extends parallel to the track in a fixed lengthwise position relative to the track. The stage is mounted on the track and is capable of movement along the track. The stage comprises a motive force generator, a rotatable member and a rotary brake. The motive force generator is operable to move the stage along the track. The rotatable member is coupled with the fixed member in a manner that converts motion of the stage along the track into rotation of the rotatable member. The rotary brake is selectively operable to apply a braking torque to the rotatable member. The coupling between the rotatable member and the fixed member converts the braking torque applied to the rotatable member into a braking force applied to the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Wagner
  • Patent number: 8146452
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a roller of a printing press includes a main motor configured to drive the roller through a first gear wheel and a first freewheel, and an auxiliary motor configured to drive the roller through a second gear wheel and a second freewheel. A brake that is different from the main motor, for example a band brake, is configured to brake the roller during overrunning of the roller following a machine stop signal. A printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Stephan Balleis, Rainer Hofmann, Patrick Roth, Bernd Sitzmann, Markus Uihlein
  • Patent number: 8091688
    Abstract: Presented is a method for actuating a parking brake for a vehicle wheel. The parking brake includes a drive, a force transmitting device, and a device for sensing an application force component of the parking brake. The method includes minimizing friction losses and ageing losses of the force transmitting device, and sensing the application force component of the parking brake by performing a force measurement directly on the drive. Also presented is a device for actuating a parking brake for a motor vehicle wheel. The device includes a drive, a force transmitting device, and a device for sensing an application force component of the parking brake. The device for sensing the application force component includes a device for minimizing the friction losses and ageing losses of the force transmitting device, and a device for measuring force directly on the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Willibald Reitmeier
  • Publication number: 20120000732
    Abstract: An electromagnetic safety trigger 46 includes a link 72 kinematically connected to a safety 70A, 70B of an elevator system mass, such as an elevator car or counterweight. An electromagnet 76 mounted on a linear actuator 74 is magnetically coupled to the link 72, and a spring 78 is connected between the link 72 and the elevator mass. The electromagnet 76 can be triggered to release the link 72, which allows the spring 78 to move the link 72 to engage the safety 70A, 70B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: James M. Draper, Greg A. Schienda, Harold Terry, Daryl J. Marvin, Anthony Cooney, Jose M. Carballo
  • Patent number: 8087498
    Abstract: The braking device is provided a set of shape memory alloy activators positioned, in an agonistic-antagonistic configuration on each side of a brake lever. Braking and releasing phases are dictated by the austenitic transformation of the shape memory alloy activators. During brake activation, shrinking of the braking activator brings the friction pad in contact with a rotating drum creating a braking friction torque. Once the brake has been activated, deformation of a flexible fiberglass component prevents brake releasing by applying sufficient normal force between the drum and the friction pad. Conversely, upon heating of the releasing activator, the pad looses its grip and the drum is free to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Victhom Human Bionics Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Dupuis, Stephane Bedard, Pierre-Olivier Roy
  • Patent number: 8061490
    Abstract: An actuator includes a screw mechanism (13) having a threaded nut (16) rotatable by an electric motor (11) about a longitudinal axis (x) and a screw (17) translatable along the axis between an axially extended position and an axially retracted position. The screw (17) is connectable to a wire (W) of a Bowden cable (C) having an outer sheath (S). The actuator has a casing (20) with a first, fixed transversal surface (18). A cup (50) is mounted axially slidably on the casing (20) and has a second transversal surface (51) adapted for resting against an end of the sheath (S). A spring (53) is compressed between the first, fixed transversal surface (18) and the sliding cup (50). The cup (50) is capable of reaching an axially extended position, corresponding to a released brake condition, and an axially retracted position towards the first fixed transversal surface (18), against the bias of the spring (53), corresponding to a brake actuated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Enrico Di Stefano, Andreas Geyer, Emmanuel Eyraud
  • Publication number: 20110278114
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric parking brake commonly used as a single puller type or a dual puller type. The electric parking brake includes an actuator housing; a parking cable connected to a brake that applies braking force to wheels of a vehicle; a motor generating driving force to operate the parking brake; a reduction gear unit for transferring power of the motor; a screw nut unit including a gear member connected to the gear reduction unit, a nut member connected to the gear member, and a screw member connected to a first parking cable of the parking cable while moving relative to the nut member; and a displacement sensor connected to the nut member of the screw nut unit. The displacement sensor includes a sensor housing, a magnet housing that moves relative to the sensor housing, a magnet elastic member elastically supported between the sensor housing and the magnet housing, a magnet provided in the magnet housing, and a hall IC provided in the sensor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Jae Hyun LEE
  • Patent number: 8056683
    Abstract: There is provided an electric disk brake including a caliper and a lock mechanism wherein the lock mechanism shifts with a pad pressing member, and is composed of: a shifting member provided with a plurality of claws with a predetermined pitch in a shifting direction; an engaging member provided with an engaging portion which is engageable with the claws of the shifting member; an actuator driving the engaging member in a direction that the engaging portion engages with the claws of the shifting member; and an energizing means normally energizing the engaging member in a direction that the engaging portion is detached from the claws of the shifting member, and the engaging portion is engaged with the claws provided on one-side surface of the shifting member when being locked while the engaging portion is positioned on the other-side surface of the shifting member when being unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Usui
  • Patent number: 8047339
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an EPB serving as an electrical parking brake in which a gear wheel and an external ring gear are arranged parallel to a driving gear rotating through a motor serving as the power source on a side surface, and fixed and output sun gears generating output torque are arranged to penetrate the external ring gear in a shaft direction via an internal ring gear and a planetary gear being in inner contact with the external ring gear, an overall length of a single body type housing with the motor is determined only by diameters of the driving gear, the gear wheel, and the external ring gear. Therefore, a power assembly converting the power of the motor driven by an ECU into the output torque is downsized so that a caliper mounted on a wheel presses a wheel disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Inwook Park
  • Patent number: 8042886
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system is provided with a brake ECU serving as controlled hydraulic brake force control for executing a controlled hydraulic brake force control to decrease the rotational speed of an electric motor when at least both of a regenerative brake force and a controlled hydraulic brake force are being applied. The brake ECU decreases the rotational speed of the electric motor when the gradient of a target controlled hydraulic brake force being a controlled hydraulic pressure command value given to a hydraulic brake device is downhill or is not present. Thus, the pressured fluid supplied from a pump driven by the electric motor to be supplied to wheel cylinders of a vehicle is decreased to enhance the efficiency in utilizing the regenerative energy which an electric motor for driving the vehicle has in dependence on the stepping state of a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Maki, Koichi Kokubo, Masayuki Naito
  • Publication number: 20110253489
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system include an actuator assembly configured for controlling a movement of a manual mechanical linkage shaft in a manual brake system for a vehicle wheel. An electric motor drives the actuator assembly wherein a manually applied force to the manual mechanical linkage shaft is modulated or pulsed. A lock and release assembly is configured for engaging and disengaging the actuator assembly to and from the manual mechanical linkage shaft. Means actuates the lock and release assembly to engage the actuator assembly to the manual mechanical linkage shaft, and disengage the actuator assembly from the manual mechanical linkage shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory A. Ward
  • Publication number: 20110253490
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical brake force booster for a hydraulic vehicle brake system. The invention proposes that the brake force booster be formed with two restoring springs, one of which acts on an electromechanical actuator and the other of which restoring springs acts on a pedal rod. In the event of failure of the electromechanical actuator, only the other spring, which preferably has a relatively low spring force, must be compressed using muscle force. The force loss in the event of actuation exclusively by muscle force is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Herbert Vollert, Reinhard Weiberle
  • Patent number: 8037978
    Abstract: An eddy current magnetic braking system that is based on drag created when a conductor moves through a stationary magnetic field. As the magnetic field increases the drag value also increases. The invention provides a magnetic braking system for use on zip line/cable rides and trolleys. Alternate designs of the present invention include a magnetic braking system having a trolley that moves on a zip line/cable to a brake block which is connected to a pulley cable, as the trolley pushes the brake block, the pulley moves the conductor into a magnetic field creating an eddy current brake that slows the trolley to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel Boren
  • Patent number: 8037972
    Abstract: In a vehicle parking system, when a selected shift position is changed between Park and a shift position other than Park, if both an electric motor of an electric parking lock mechanism and an electric motor of an electric parking brake mechanism are operated, these electric motors are started in such a manner that the times at which striking currents supplied to these electric motors reach their peaks are staggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kozo Fujita
  • Patent number: 8011482
    Abstract: An improved structure for an electric actuator unit for use in a brake assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Brian Boyle, David Kwierant, Ralf Leiter
  • Patent number: 8010269
    Abstract: Brake apparatus includes a transmission unit for operatively connecting a brake pedal to a master cylinder, and the transmission unit is a mechanism capable of varying a ratio between an output amount of a push rod connected to a master cylinder and an operation amount of the brake pedal. Further, the transmission unit is constructed in such a manner that, in an initial operation region of the brake pedal, a ratio of the operation amount of the brake pedal to the output amount of the push rod is set to be greater than in another operation region immediately following the initial operation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Toyohira, Arata Inoue, Kazuyoshi Akutsu, Kunimichi Hatano
  • Patent number: 8002090
    Abstract: The invention provides a brake apparatus in which a vibration resistance and a heat resistance are improved, in a control apparatus of an integrally structured brake in which an electric circuit portion is attached to a brake force generating portion of the brake apparatus. In the control apparatus of the integrally structured brake in which the electric circuit portion is attached to the brake force generating portion of the brake apparatus, the structure is made such that an opening is provided in a circuit side case and a connected portion is arranged in a space within the opening, in order to secure an assured electric connection after attaching the circuit portion. A connecting work can be executed from the opening portion, a vibration resistance can be improved, and a heat resistance can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Yasukawa
  • Patent number: 7992691
    Abstract: A parking brake having an actuator, wherein the actuator is driven with a direct current motor which can be operated in two directions and which moves a piston of the actuator and, via a self-locking gear mechanism of the actuator, at least one brake shoe for applying or releasing the parking brake. A control unit for performing open-loop or closed-loop control of the movement of the direct current motor is also provided. During open-loop or closed-loop control of the movement of the direct current motor for applying and/or releasing the parking brake, the control unit takes into account a hydraulic admission pressure which is currently present at the piston if the brake is applied or was present at the piston if the brake has been released when it had previously been applied. A corresponding method for operating such a parking brake is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Christof Maron, Marcus Schumann, Faouzi Attallah, Heinz-Anton Schneider
  • Patent number: 7987952
    Abstract: Damping mechanisms and motor assemblies are provided. In an embodiment, by way of example only, a damping mechanism includes an end cap, a bearing retainer plate, a bearing damper ring, a bearing assembly, and first and second lateral dampers. The bearing damper ring is disposed in an annular cavity inwardly from an inner diameter surface of the end cap and has a radially inwardly-extending flange. The bearing assembly is disposed in the annular cavity radially inwardly relative to the bearing damper ring. The first lateral damper is disposed between a radially inwardly-extending wall of the end cap and the bearing damper ring. The second lateral damper is disposed between the bearing damper ring and the bearing retainer plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Duc Q. Phan, Khiet Le, Terence G. Ward, Yunqi Zheng, Gabriel Gallegos-Lopez, Dang Dinh Dang
  • Publication number: 20110162923
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator for press brakes, includes: an outer containment body (13); a lead nut (5) positioned within the outer body (13) and presenting a threaded internal surface (9); a stem (2) able to be associated to a bending tool and having a thread (4) operatively associated within the lead nut (5); motor element (6) positioned in the outer body (13) to set in rotation the lead nut (5) around its own longitudinal axis (X), the rotation of the lead nut (5) determining the axial displacement of the stem (2); and at least one tie rod (20) fastened within the containment body (13) to absorb the axial loads (C) applied on the stem (2); the axial loads (C) are transferred from the stem (2) to the tie rod (20) by transfer element (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: UMBRA CUSCINETTI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Speziali, Massimiliano Bosi, Luciano Pizzoni, Federico Perni
  • Publication number: 20110144878
    Abstract: A multi-circuit electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system includes a plurality of calipers having hydraulically actuated actuators which are hydraulically connected to an electronically controlled unit. The unit includes an electronic unit ECU and a hydraulic unit HCU. At least some of the calipers, additionally or separately include electromechanical actuators for actuating or releasing a parking brake effect. In order to cut down on electrical interfaces and electronic units in a motor vehicle, the electronic unit is connected to the electromechanical actuators via respective two separate electrical supply lines, and the electronic unit has at least one electrical switch for supplying the electromechanically actuated actuators with power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Heinz-Anton Schneider, Bemhard Schmittner
  • Publication number: 20110132704
    Abstract: An aircraft brake system electromechanical actuator is provided. The actuator is configured with features that allow the electric motor to be a line replaceable unit. One such feature is a foreign-object-damage shield that inhibits dust, debris, and/or other particulate contaminants from entering the electromechanical actuator during electric motor removal and replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Casey Hanlon, Kellan Geck, James Neil Quitmeyer, Allan Blunt
  • Patent number: 7950503
    Abstract: An electric disk brake that can be operated and inspected before being assembled and that can be assembled easily. A piston, a ball ramp mechanism, a differential reduction mechanism, and a pad wear compensation mechanism are integrated to form a piston unit. A motor, a resolver, and a drive controller are integrated to form a motor/controller unit. The piston unit is inserted into a cylinder of a caliper body, and the motor/controller unit is mounted on the caliper body to assemble an electric caliper. Before being incorporated into the electric caliper, the motor/controller unit can be operated and easily inspected for any defect by applying an electric current to the motor/controller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shigeta, Takayasu Sakashita
  • Patent number: 7942247
    Abstract: In a vehicle disk brake, a motor housing houses in a housing recess a case into which an end of an output shaft liquid-tightly protrudes, and is mounted to a caliper body. A reduction mechanism having an output rotating member is sealed in the case while part of the output rotating member fluid-tightly protrudes from the case so as to be coaxially and operatively connected to a rear portion of the screw shaft. Grease is charged into the case. Thus, the case for housing the reduction mechanism is simply configured while preventing leakage of the grease charged into the case, and mounting of the case to the caliper body is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Adachi, Akihiko Koike
  • Patent number: 7925408
    Abstract: During the standstill state maintenance control executed by an electric parking brake system, the moving force-based target tension Frefb is determined based on the inclination angle of a vehicle and the shift position each time the predetermined program is executed, and the tentative target tension Fref(n) in the current routine is set to a smaller value from among the moving force-based target tension Frefb and the maximum value Fmax. The control target tension Fref(n)* is set to a larger value from among the control target tension (the final target tension) Fref(n?1)* in the immediately preceding routine and the tentative target value Fref(n). Even if the tentative target tension Fref(n) is smaller than the control target tension Fref(n?1)*, the control target value Fref(n)* is not set to a value smaller than the control target tension Fref(n?1)*.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Shiraki
  • Publication number: 20110074204
    Abstract: Disclosed is a regenerative braking system capable of minimizing uncomfortable feeling during the braking operation while improving responsiveness and control performance by performing the braking operation using an electric motor. An electro-mechanical braking system is used when braking a rear wheel or front and rear wheels, so variable frictional braking is achieved, thereby maximizing the recovery rate of the regenerative energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Joo Gon KIM
  • Patent number: 7891468
    Abstract: A motor-driven parking brake apparatus includes a load sensor (pressure sensor) for detecting axial load of a screw shaft. The pressure sensor includes a transmission member which receives the axial load via a circular surface of a plate, and a casing which accommodates the transmission member and receives the axial load via the transmission member. This casing has a circular opening having an opening area smaller than the surface of the circular surface. The pressure sensor detects a pressure generated due to a load received from an exposed portion of the transmission member which is exposed from the circular opening. Due to characteristics of the transmission member, the load received from the exposed portion is a portion of the axial load and proportional to the axial load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Tsubouchi
  • Publication number: 20110031074
    Abstract: An input rod and an input piston are advanced in response to an operation of a brake pedal, and an electric motor is driven according to the movement of the input piston to propel a primary piston in a master cylinder through a ball-screw mechanism. Thus, a hydraulic pressure is generated and supplied to a brake caliper of each wheel. At this time, a part of the hydraulic pressure is received by the input piston, and a part of the reaction force of hydraulic pressure during braking is fed back to the brake pedal. A nut member of the ball-screw mechanism has a nut part with a ball groove and a rotor part thinner in wall thickness than the nut part. A rotor core of the electric motor is press-fitted to the rotor part, thereby making it difficult for stress produced in the rotor part by press fitting to be transmitted to the nut part, and maintaining the high dimensional accuracy of the ball groove on the nut part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Hideaki ISHII
  • Patent number: 7862129
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric parking brake system with one cable that has only one cable between an actuator, serving as a power generator, and parking cables and high flexibility in laying-out for mounting to a vehicle. According to an electric parking brake system with one cable of the invention, an actuator that converts torque of a motor into axial moving force to operate parking cables is manufactured into a single module, a housing that defines the whole external shape of the actuator is formed into an integral unit by injection molding, in which vibration caused by rotation in the operation of the actuator is absorbed by elastic members, so that a small-sized actuator having improved workability in mounting can be obtained and desired performance, such as reduction of operational noise caused by absorption of vibration, can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Woo Jeon
  • Patent number: 7845472
    Abstract: Provided are a cable-driving apparatus that performs the function of an equalizer using a planet gear assembly, and a parking brake system using the cable-driving apparatus. The cable-driving apparatus includes a driving motor; a first planet gear assembly for reducing a rotational velocity of the driving motor; and a second planet gear assembly coupled to the first planet gear assembly, wherein a first parking brake cable is connected to a circumferential outer surface of a ring gear of the second planet gear assembly, and a second parking brake cable is connected to a circumferential outer surface of a carrier of the second planet gear assembly in an opposite direction to the first parking brake cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Hyuck-Moon Gil, Byung-Ki Kim, Young-Eon Jung
  • Patent number: 7828124
    Abstract: An electric disk brake is capable of determining an abnormality of a parking brake mechanism while the parking brake mechanism is in operation. A brake force is generated in the following manner. A rotation of an electric motor is slowed down by a differential speed reducing mechanism, and is converted into a linear motion by a ball ramp mechanism so as to advance a piston, which then presses a brake pad against a disk rotor to generate a brake force. A parking brake mechanism can lock a rotation of a rotor of the electric motor and maintain a braked state by rotating an engagement pawl through a plunger of a solenoid and causing the engagement pawl to be engaged with a ratchet wheel coupled to the rotor of the electric motor. A play is provided at a coupling portion of the engagement pawl and the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumoto Sano, Takuya Usui
  • Publication number: 20100258390
    Abstract: A brake including i) a caliper; ii) brake linings associated with the caliper; iii) at least one spring that forces the brake linings toward each other; and iv) an electromechanical actuator capable of forcing the brake linings away from each other against the spring force when actuated in a first direction and also capable of forcing the brake linings toward each other in combination with the spring force when actuated in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Michael O. Culbertson
  • Patent number: 7806239
    Abstract: An actuating system 1 for a wheel brake system of a motor vehicle, wherein the braking action is obtained by means of a rotatable cam element 2 fixed to the motor shaft 8 of an electric motor, with said rotatable cam element 2 abutting against an actuating member 4, so as to laterally displace said actuating member 4, resulting in the braking pads 5 being pressed against the friction element or brake disk. Recovery or adjustment of the backlash or gap arising due to the wear of the brake pads. The motor-cam group or assembly is displaced so as to keep the brake pads 5 in light contact with the friction element or disk but without exerting any unwanted braking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Fondazione Torino Wireless
    Inventors: Andrea Tonoli, Jean Paul Voyat, Guillaume Fracassi
  • Publication number: 20100243387
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical friction brake, for example in the form of a disc brake having an electromechanical actuation device. The electric motor of the actuation device presses a frictional brake lining against a brake disc by means of a reduction gearbox and a ball ramp mechanism. The actuation device is supported by a spring washer that is pretensioned so strongly that when the disc brake is released it acts on a segment with a falling spring characteristic; that is, a spring force exerted by the spring washer on the frictional brake lining increases with increasing tension of the disc brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Herbert Vollert, Chi-Thuan Cao, Nguyet-Minh Cao, Bertram Foitzik, Willi Nagel, Bernd Goetzelmann, Dirk Hofmann